Effects of speleotherapy in Çankırı Salt Cave and haloaeresoltherapy in the salt chamber on COPD and bronchial asthma patients: a preliminary experimental pilot study

Overview

This preliminary experimental pilot study evaluated the therapeutic effects of speleotherapy conducted in the Çankırı Salt Cave combined with haloaerosoltherapy in an artificial salt chamber on patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and bronchial asthma. The intervention protocol consisted of 15 consecutive daily sessions administered to 33 total participants distributed across two groups.

Methods and approach

Thirty-three individuals (14 in Group 1, 19 in Group 2) underwent speleotherapy in a natural salt cave and haloaerosoltherapy in an artificial salt chamber with once-daily exposure for 15 consecutive days. Pre- and post-intervention assessments employed the Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, COPD Assessment Test, SF-12 Quality of Life Scale, Six-Minute Walk Test, Borg Dyspnea Scale, pulmonary function testing via spirometry, and BODE Index scoring. Non-parametric statistical analyses compared baseline measurements with post-intervention values to determine significance of treatment effects.

Results

Both intervention groups demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mMRC dyspnea scale scores (p=.001 for Group 1; p=.000 for Group 2), CAT scores (p=.001 for both groups), and BODE index values (p=.003 for Group 1; p=.004 for Group 2) relative to baseline. Significant improvements in SF-12 quality of life scores were observed, including physical component summary scores (p=.002 for Group 1; p=.001 for Group 2) and mental component summary scores (p=.001 for Group 1; p=.004 for Group 2). The Six-Minute Walk Test demonstrated significant increases in walking distance for both groups following intervention (p=.003 for Group 1; p=.017 for Group 2).

Implications

Combined speleotherapy and haloaerosoltherapy interventions produced measurable reductions in dyspnea severity and disease-specific symptom burden in patients with COPD and asthmatic bronchitis, as quantified by standardized assessment instruments. The documented improvements in exercise capacity and walking distance indicate physiological gains in functional status following the intervention protocol. The concurrent improvements across dyspnea measures, symptom assessment scales, quality of life domains, and functional performance metrics suggest multidimensional therapeutic benefit from the combined salt-based exposure interventions.